Politics and the Middle East

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 6
• Assessment: a 1000-word seminar report (25%) and 3000-word examination (75%)

This module provides an introduction to the contemporary political evolution of the Middle East, with a particular focus on inter-state relations, at both a regional and international level.

It aims to:

• develop a broad understanding of how the contemporary Middle East has evolved since 1918
• identify and examine the key issues dominating politics in the region, including great powers’ relations with the region and its peoples
• put the politics of the Middle East in the broader perspective of comparative political science
• place the politics of the region within the wider comparative perspective of the developing world, highlighting similarities and differences.

By the end of the module, you should have:

• gained knowledge of the evolution of Middle Eastern polities and societies, as well as external powers’ interactions with them
• developed detailed knowledge of key concepts and texts used in the analysis of the region
• relevant historical and contextual knowledge, including on the international relations of the region.